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 Rourkela, best visited during the months of October to March, is the leading industrial town in the Sundargarh district of Orissa. Home to India's foremost public sector steel plants; tours to Rourkela would startle you with natural wonders and breathtaking beauty.
Besides its industrial character lent by the successful steel plant, there are many places within Rourkela that you can visit on your tour to Rourkela arranged by Tourism of Orissa.
Surrounded by hills and rivulets, set on the richest mineral belts in India with one of India's most successful steel plants, Rourkela is also instantly associated with the 75 feet tall statue of Hanuman in the middle of the garden called Hanuman Batika.
Hanuman Batika is a garden is spread over 3 acres of land and is part of the temple complex that has many shrines within its premises. Of interest are the Bata Mangala Mandir, Binayaka Mandir and Manas Parayana Sharala, Santoshi Ma Mandir, Bruhat Sivalinga Mandir, Ram Daravar, Hanumanji Mandir, Ma Laxmi Mandir and Jagannath Mandir.
Named after the author of the epic Mahabharata who was born here, Vedvyas is a must visit whether for its religious significance or its picturesque setting. The confluence of three rivers - Shankha, Koel and Saraswati make it an interesting picnic spot. Other tourist attractions in Vedvyas, near Rourkela, include the Vedic Ashram and the Gurukul styled school.
You can also go for family picnics and engaging excursions to the Indira Gandhi Park, Nehru Traffic Park, Jubilee Park, Mrig Vihar and Green Park.
Easily accessible by road and rail, tours to Rourkela can also be extended to include other tourist attractions in the nearby regions.
Junagarh Fort, near Rourkela, is a must visit. Besides the historical monument, there are many caves adorned with tantric styled art in the Junagarh region. Tourism of Orissa can also extend your tour to Rourkela to include brief excursions to Kanika National Park (15 km) and Hemagiri (4 km) from Junagarh.
The Mandira Dam across the river Sankha is a popular picnic spot. Boating on the artificial lake and tour of the dam can be arranged for upon request. Another dam that you can visit for picnics and sightseeing on your tour to Rourkela is at Pitamahal.
The spectacular waterfall of Khandadhar is considered to be the prettiest sceneries painted across Orissa's landscape. Other places that are ideal for picnics, treks and nature walks on your tour to Rourkela include Darjeeng (riverside), Deodarha (gorge) and Ghogar (black granite Shivalinga).
Ushakothi wildlife sanctuary and Vikramkhol with rock cut caves bearing writings in a pictographic script that is yet to be deciphered are other places near Rourkela that you can visit. Rajgangpur's cement factory can also be visited on your tour to Rourkela arranged by Tourism of Orissa.
Tourism of Orissa can also plan your tour to Rourkela around festivals such as Rath Yatra, Dola Yatra, and Vedvyas Mela.
There are many hotels and lodges in Rourkela where you can stay comfortably during your tour to Rourkela, Orissa.
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